Jigsaw puzzle game system
A jigsaw puzzle game system has a number of inter-fitting pieces which combine to create a finished visual effect. None of the puzzle pieces are interchangeable. All pieces have identical top and bottom surfaces and thus could be used on either side. The pieces do not carry a visual marker or design to assist in determining where the individual pieces fit in the overall puzzle scheme. Each puzzle is a unique design with a combination of pieces that will fit no other puzzle with similar visual appearance. Each puzzle is assigned a serial number and individual part numbers are assigned to each puzzle piece. A puzzle solution map is included with each puzzle. This map includes the unique serial number of the corresponding puzzle along with a completed visual scheme with each puzzle piece indicated with a part number that corresponds with the assigned number for each puzzle piece. A method is provided for computer-generated replacement of the puzzle solution map or individual puzzle pieces through an Internet website.
This invention relates to jigsaw puzzle games which involve arranging multiple puzzle pieces to reach a solution and a system and method to provide a solution map and replacements pieces to the user.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONPuzzles or games of various shapes and sizes that involve a user arranging and rearranging puzzle pieces to achieve a specified solution are well known in the art. In particular most people are familiar with “jigsaw” puzzles, in which a large number of interlocking pieces can be fitted together to make a recognizable two-dimensional picture or pattern. Such puzzles include, for example, the widely recognized Chinese puzzle known as the tangram that involves combining interlocking and non-interlocking geometric puzzle pieces into a larger shaped puzzle solution either contained within an external frame or tray, or within an edge formation that is composed of individual puzzle pieces commonly called border or edge pieces.
Examples of puzzles with an external frame or tray are shown in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,433,485 and 4,053,159. Examples of puzzles with an edge formation composed of individual border or edge pieces are shown in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,067,714 and 6,550,769.
These puzzles are usually played by a user as a source of an enjoyable challenge or entertainment. These puzzles also serve to improve the cognitive abilities of many users, especially children, and can therefore be a valuable educational aid or learning tool.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONOne advantage of the inventive jigsaw puzzle game system is that none of the puzzle pieces are interchangeable. The upper and lower surfaces of all puzzle pieces are finished identically in all respects, including but not limited to smoothness and color, and thus could be used on either side. In addition, the upper and lower surfaces of the pieces carry no visual marker or design to assist in determining where the individual pieces fit in the overall puzzle scheme—all to increase the level of difficulty.
Another advantage of the inventive jigsaw puzzle game system is that the user is afforded access to a graphic user interface screen display of a puzzle solution map through a computer-generated medium via an Internet web site.
Another advantage of the inventive jigsaw puzzle game system is that each jigsaw puzzle game system may be unique. Each jigsaw puzzle game system is individually designed, manufactured, and signed by an artist. Each jigsaw puzzle game system has a serial number and part numbers assigned to each puzzle piece. The user can reproduce the puzzle solution map by graphic user interface screen display at the Internet web site and obtain replacement puzzle pieces, border pieces or frame tray identified on the screen display by following computer-implemented ordering instructions.
It is an object of this invention to provide a new type of puzzle game system of inter-fitting puzzle pieces, preferably of the nature of a jigsaw puzzle that may be unique in design and visual appearance.
It is a further object of this invention to provide a jigsaw puzzle game system comprising a plurality of puzzle pieces, said pieces being shaped to inter-fit with adjacent puzzle pieces to form an assembled puzzle structure, either within an external frame or bordering on an internal frame or having no frame, said assembled puzzle structure having a finished visual scheme being the outline of the pieces in coherent combination and where the combination of puzzle pieces will fit no other puzzle of similar visual appearance.
It is a further object of this invention to provide a jigsaw puzzle game system comprising a plurality of puzzle pieces and a frame tray, said pieces being shaped to inter-fit with adjacent pieces and inter-fit with said frame tray to form an assembled puzzle structure, said assembled puzzle structure having a finished visual scheme being the outline of the pieces and frame tray in coherent combination and where the combination of puzzle pieces and frame tray will fit no other puzzle of similar visual appearance.
It is a further object of this invention to provide a jigsaw puzzle game system comprising a plurality of puzzle pieces wherein each puzzle piece has identical upper and lower surfaces allowing the puzzle piece to be used on either side and where none of the puzzle pieces are interchangeable nor carry any visual marker, all to enhance the difficulty of the puzzle game.
It is a further object of this invention to provide a jigsaw puzzle game system comprising a plurality of puzzle pieces wherein each puzzle game system is assigned and etched with an identifying serial number and each puzzle piece is assigned part numbers corresponding to the puzzle game system identified by serial number and where each puzzle piece may be etched with its corresponding part number.
It is a further object of this invention to provide a jigsaw puzzle game system comprising a plurality of puzzle pieces wherein each puzzle game system further comprises a puzzle solution map designated for the puzzle game system and identified by the puzzle game system serial number and a completed visual scheme indicating each puzzle piece by part number.
It is a further object of this invention to provide a jigsaw puzzle game system comprising a plurality of puzzle pieces wherein each puzzle game system further comprises a method for computer-implemented user access to a graphic user interface screen display of a puzzle solution map with access to replacement puzzle pieces through an Internet web site.
It is a further object of this invention to provide an Internet web site with a graphics user interface screen display for each puzzle solution map for each puzzle game system.
It is a further object of this invention that any embodiment of the inventive puzzle game system may be produced and offered to users as one-of-a-kind without duplication.
It is a further object of this invention that the plurality of puzzle pieces and frame tray for any embodiment of the inventive puzzle game system may be fabricated from a variety of materials including but not limited to stainless steel, aluminum, titanium or any metal, metal alloy or non-metallic material and that said pieces and frame tray may be fabricated by a variety of precision cutting and machining techniques including but not limited to lasers with cutting tolerances within one 10,000th of an inch to enhance difficulty of assembly.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
While
If numbers are physically placed on the external frame tray 3 or the non-interlocking puzzle pieces 2, or both, then the corresponding numbers would be permanently affixed to the desired surface by a method appropriate to the material upon which the number is being affixed. For example, etching or engraving by machine or laser technique could be used on a metallic material.
While
Just as described above for the example inventive jigsaw puzzle game system 1 depicted in
As similarly indicated in
Just as described above for the example inventive jigsaw puzzle game system 1 depicted in
As similarly indicated in
Just as described above for the example inventive jigsaw puzzle game system 1 depicted in
To enhance the value and collectability of the inventive jigsaw puzzle game system, any embodiment with a unique assembled effect may be manufactured as one-of-a-kind without duplication. Likewise, the puzzle pieces, border pieces or frame tray for any embodiment may be manufactured from a durable, non-oxidizing metal or metal alloy such as stainless steel, titanium, or aluminum using cutting techniques such as a laser to achieve precision inter-fit between adjacent puzzle pieces, border pieces and frame trays.
In any embodiment of the inventive jigsaw puzzle game system, the user would be provided with a puzzle solution map identified by the unique serial number and illustrative of the assembled visual scheme for the jigsaw puzzle game system with a part number and location for each puzzle piece within the assembled puzzle structure. The puzzle solution map could be provided as a hard document on a material such as paper or cardboard and also as a computer generated graphic user interface screen display of a puzzle solution map on an internet website available to the user as part of the inventive puzzle game system. The inventive puzzle game system website would also include ordering instructions for replacement of puzzle pieces, border pieces and frame trays.
The examples of the inventive jigsaw puzzle game system 1 depicted in
The present invention also provides a method which allows the user to replace the puzzle solution map to the jigsaw puzzle game system and replace puzzle pieces. According to this method, the user is provided access to an Internet website. At the website, the user can access a computer generated graphic user interface screen display of a puzzle solution map identified by the unique serial number and illustrative of the assembled visual scheme for the jigsaw puzzle game system with a part number and location for each puzzle piece within the assembled puzzle structure which may further comprise a frame tray, border pieces or both. The user can then reproduce the puzzle solution map and obtain replacement puzzle pieces, border pieces or frame tray identified on the screen display by following computer-implemented ordering instructions.
While this invention has been described as having multiple designs, the present invention may be further modified within the spirit and scope of this disclosure. This application is therefore intended to cover any variations, uses, or adaptations of the invention using its general principles. Further, this application is intended to cover such departures from the present disclosure as come within known or customary practice in the art to which this invention pertains.
Claims
1. A jigsaw puzzle game system comprising a plurality of puzzle pieces, each having an upper surface and a lower surface, configured to inter-fit with adjacent puzzle pieces, to together form an assembled puzzle structure having an assembled visual scheme being a coherent combination of the configurations of the puzzle pieces.
2. A jigsaw puzzle game system as described in claim 1 where the upper surface of each puzzle piece is finished identically to the lower surface of that same puzzle piece.
3. A jigsaw puzzle game system as described in claim 1 in which none of the puzzle pieces are identical in configuration to any of the other puzzle pieces and neither the upper surface nor the lower surface of any puzzle piece carries any visual marker which would assist a puzzle user in completing the assemble puzzle structure.
4. A jigsaw puzzle game system as described in claim 2 in which none of the puzzle pieces are identical in configuration to any of the other puzzle pieces and neither the upper surface nor the lower surface of any puzzle piece carries any visual marker which would assist a puzzle user in completing the assemble puzzle structure.
5. A jigsaw puzzle game system as described in claim 1 wherein the assembled puzzle structure having an assembled visual scheme is unique and said jigsaw puzzle game system is assigned a unique serial number and each puzzle piece is assigned a discrete part number.
6. A jigsaw puzzle game system as described in claim 2 wherein the assembled puzzle structure having an assembled visual scheme is unique and said jigsaw puzzle game system is assigned a unique serial number and each puzzle piece is assigned a discrete part number.
7. A jigsaw puzzle game system as described in claim 3 wherein the assembled puzzle structure having an assembled visual scheme is unique and said jigsaw puzzle game system is assigned a unique serial number and each puzzle piece is assigned a discrete part number.
8. A jigsaw puzzle game system as described in claim 4 wherein the assembled puzzle structure having an assembled visual scheme is unique and said jigsaw puzzle game system is assigned a unique serial number and each puzzle piece is assigned a discrete part number.
9. A jigsaw puzzle game system as described in claim 5 further comprising a puzzle solution map identified by the unique serial number and illustrative of the assembled visual scheme for the jigsaw puzzle game system with a part number and location for each puzzle piece within the assembled puzzle structure.
10. A jigsaw puzzle game system as described in claim 9 wherein the puzzle solution map further comprises an internet website with a computer-implemented graphic user interface screen display of a puzzle solution map with puzzle piece part numbers.
11. A jigsaw puzzle game system comprising a plurality of puzzle pieces, a frame tray, said puzzle pieces each having an upper surface and a lower surface, configured to inter-fit with adjacent puzzle pieces and to inter-fit with said frame tray, to together form an assembled puzzle structure having an assembled visual scheme being a coherent combination of the configurations of the puzzle pieces and the frame tray.
12. A jigsaw puzzle game system as described in claim 11 where the upper surface of each puzzle piece is finished identically to the lower surface of that same puzzle piece.
13. A jigsaw puzzle game system as described in claim 11 in which none of the puzzle pieces are identical in configuration to any of the other puzzle pieces and neither the upper surface nor the lower surface of any puzzle piece carries any visual marker which would assist a puzzle user in completing the assemble puzzle structure.
14. A jigsaw puzzle game system as described in claim 12 in which none of the puzzle pieces are identical in configuration to any of the other puzzle pieces and neither the upper surface nor the lower surface of any puzzle piece carries any visual marker which would assist a puzzle user in completing the assemble puzzle structure.
15. A jigsaw puzzle game system as described in claim 11 wherein the assembled puzzle structure having an assembled visual scheme is unique and said jigsaw puzzle game system is assigned a unique serial number and each puzzle piece is assigned a discrete part number.
16. A jigsaw puzzle game system as described in claim 12 wherein the assembled puzzle structure having an assembled visual scheme is unique and said jigsaw puzzle game system is assigned a unique serial number and each puzzle piece is assigned a discrete part number.
17. A jigsaw puzzle game system as described in claim 13 wherein the assembled puzzle structure having an assembled visual scheme is unique and said jigsaw puzzle game system is assigned a unique serial number and each puzzle piece is assigned a discrete part number.
18. A jigsaw puzzle game system as described in claim 14 wherein the assembled puzzle structure having an assembled visual scheme is unique and said jigsaw puzzle game system is assigned a unique serial number and each puzzle piece is assigned a discrete part number.
19. A jigsaw puzzle game system as described in claim 15 further comprising a puzzle solution map identified by the unique serial number and illustrative of the assembled visual scheme for the jigsaw puzzle game system with a part number and location for each puzzle piece within the assembled puzzle structure.
20. A jigsaw puzzle game system as described in claim 19 wherein the puzzle solution map further comprises an internet website with a computer-implemented graphic user interface screen display of a puzzle solution map with puzzle piece part numbers.
21. A computer-implemented method for providing a puzzle solution map and replacement pieces for a jigsaw puzzle game system comprising a plurality of puzzle pieces, each having an upper surface and a lower surface, configured to inter-fit with adjacent puzzle pieces, to together form an assembled puzzle structure having an assembled visual scheme being a coherent combination of the configurations of the puzzle pieces, where the upper surface of each puzzle piece is finished identically to the lower surface of that same puzzle piece, in which none of the puzzle pieces are identical in configuration to any of the other puzzle pieces and neither the upper surface nor the lower surface of any puzzle piece carries any visual marker which would assist a puzzle user in completing the assemble puzzle structure and wherein the assembled puzzle structure having an assembled visual scheme is unique and said jigsaw puzzle game system is assigned a unique serial number and each puzzle piece is assigned a discrete part number; comprising the steps of:
- providing to a user access to an Internet website;
- providing to the user a computer generated graphic user interface screen display on said website of a puzzle solution map identified by the unique serial number and illustrative of the assembled visual scheme for the jigsaw puzzle game system with a part number and location for each puzzle piece within the assembled puzzle structure
- providing replacement puzzle piece computer-implemented ordering instructions to the user for ordering replacement puzzle pieces once identified on the screen display.
22. A computer-implemented method as described in claim 21 for providing a puzzle solution map and replacement pieces for a jigsaw puzzle game system as described in claim 21 wherein said described jigsaw puzzle game system further comprises a frame tray, and the puzzle pieces are configured to inter-fit with adjacent puzzle pieces and to inter-fit with said frame tray, to together form an assembled puzzle structure having an assembled visual scheme being a coherent combination of the configurations of the puzzle pieces and the frame tray.
Type: Application
Filed: Jan 10, 2005
Publication Date: Jul 13, 2006
Inventor: Scott Fredrickson (New Orleans, LA)
Application Number: 11/032,585
International Classification: A63F 9/10 (20060101);